Atomizer with means for concealing plungers and nozzles



Sept. 18, 1951 CQTTER 2,568,057

ATOIVIIZER WITH MEANS FOR CONCEALING PLUNGERS AND NOZZLES Filed Aug. 20, 1948 Summer Wi/l/am A. Collfer Patented Sept. 18, 1951 ATOMIZER WITH MEANS FOR CON CEALING PLUNGERS AND NOZZLES William A. Cotter, New York, N. Y., assignor to Cotter Manufacturing 00., Inc., New York,

Application August 20, 1948, Serial No. 45,297

6 Claims.

This invention relates to atomizers. More particularly it relates to an atomizer construction which may be detachably attached to liquid containers for atomizing or spraying the contents of the container.

An object of this invention is to provide an atomizer construction of the reciprocable plunger type together with means for substantially concealing the plunger and its associated nozzle when the atomizer is not in use, the concealing means being adapted to allow free reciprocation of the plunger when the atomizer is in use.

Another object of this invention is to provide an atomizer construction which includes a reciprocable and rotatable plunger having a nozzle extending from an upper portion thereof and at an angle thereto and a cap for covering the upper portion of the plunger when it is in a depressed, inoperative position, the cap being formed to permit passage therethrough of the plunger and nozzle, together with means on the upper end of the plunger for reciprocating the plunger, the.

reciprocating means being adapted to coact with the cap to conceal the upper portion of the plunger when it is in a depressed, inoperative position, the nozzle being adapted to engage the 1 cap to retain the plunger in its depressed position,

the cap being provided with means for sealing the outer end of the nozzle when the plunger is in its inoperative position.

A further object of this invention is to pro- 2;:

vide an atomizer of the character described which includes a cylinder with an extensible conduit extending from one end thereof and a plunger reciprocably and rotatably mounted therein with a portion extending from the other end thereof,

the plunger having a reciprocating member mounted on its upper end and a nozzle spaced below the reciprocating member and projecting from the plunger at an angle thereto, a cap on the upper end of the cylinder which is formed with a slot through which the plunger and nozzle passes, the plunger being adapted to be depressed to a position where the nozzle passes through the slot, the plunger being then further adapted to be rotated to move the nozzle out of alignment I with the slot and into engagement with the cap to retain the plunger in its depressed position, the reciprocating member being adapted to cover the slot in the cap and the cap being provided with resilient material on an inner surface thereof for engaging the outer end of the nozzle in its rotated position to seal the opening therein.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a durable atomizer construction of pleasing appearance, which is inexpensive to manufacture, is readily attached or detached to liquid containers, and is practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown various illustrative embodiments of this invention:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of an atomizer construction embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial, side elevational view thereof,

with parts broken away and parts in section and showing the plunger in its elevated position;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4. is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the atomizer construction with the plunger in its elevated position.

Referrin in detail to the drawing, in designates an atomizer construction embodying the invention. The same may be detachably mounted on a container ll of glass, plastic or other suitable material which carries liquid to be atomized. The container l I comprises a bottom wall 12 from which extends side walls H3. The side walls 13 terminate at their upper end in an externally an annular shoulder 22a. The opposite end of the cylinder 2| is formed with an outwardly extending annular bead 23 which is disposed slightly inwardly of the outer edge of the cylinder. The cylinder is fixed to the support in depending relation thereto, by disposing the upper end of the cylinder in the opening [8 in top wall I! of the support with the bead 23 in contact with the underside of the wall. The outer end 24 of the cylinder is then crimped against the upper surface of the wall l1 at the edge of the opening I8. An extensible conduit 25, which comprises a pair of telescoped sections, is force fitted at one end thereof into the restricted portion 22 of the cylinder.

A tubular plunger 26 is reciprocably and rotatably mounted within the cylinder 2| and comprises at its lower end an enlarged portion 21 forming an interconnecting annular shoulder 28. The outer surface of the enlarged portion 21 slidably contacts the inner surface of the cylinder. A cup shaped guide member 29 formed with a central opening, is press fitted into the upper end of the cylinder to guide the movement of the plunger 26 which passes through the central opening therein. A coil compression spring 30 is disposed within the enlarged portion 21 of the plunger with the last turn at its lower end engaging the shoulder 22a and the last turn at its upper end engaging the shoulder 28. It will be apparent that the spring 30 urges the plunger upwardly and outwardly of the cylinder. A ball 3| is loosely positioned on the upper end of the conduit 25 within the cylinder, acting as a check valve in the manner well known in the art.

A cylindrical cover member 32 having a top wall 33, is force fittedonto the plunger 26 to cover the upper end thereof. A nozzle 34 is radially mounted in the upper end of the plunger,

above the top wall ll of the support and spaced from the top wall 33 of the cover member. The axis of the nozzle is disposed substantially at right angles to the axis of the plunger. The rear portion of the nozzle is fittedinto registering openings formed in the wall of the plunger and the cover member 32, thereby allowing communication between the interior of the plunger and the nozzle. The nozzle is formed with a restricted orifice 35 at its outer end. A threaded member 36 may be disposed within the nozzleto deflect and whirl the liquid passing through the nozzle as it approaches the orifice 35.

It is apparent that upon reciprocation of the plunger 26 against the action of the spring 30, the liquid contents of container II will pass up through conduit 25 to be atomized through nozzle 34, in a manner known in the art.

Means is provided for locking the plunger 26 against reciprocatory movement and for concealing the upper end of the plunger when the atomizer is not in use. To this end an inverted cup shaped cap member 40 is force fitted on the support I5. The cap 46 comprises a cylindrical side wall 4| and a top wall 42 which is spaced from the top wall I! of the support, forming a chamber 43 therebetween. The top wall 42 is formed with a radial slot 44 extending to the upper end of the side wall 4| and communicating with an opening '45 formed in the side wall. The plunger 26, together with its cover member 32 extends through the inner end of the slot, while the nozzle 34 is free to move through the slotwhen the nozzle is aligned therewith. The nozzle can moveto positions on either side of the cap wall 42 upon reciprocation of the plunger. The diameter of the wall 4| and the length of the nozzle 34 are so proportioned that the outer end of the nozzle terminates just short of the inner surface of the wall 4|.

A circular head having a downwardly extending annular flange 5|, is mounted on the upper end of the cover member 32 to form means for manually reciprocating the plunger 26 and additionally, to conceal the slot 44 when the plunger is in a depressed position. The head 50 is formed with a central opening through which extends the cover member 32. The head is fixed to the cover member by means of a pair of outwardly extending annular beads 52, 53 formed on the cover member and gripping the head at the opening therein. The dimensions of the head 50 are such that it is adapted to cover the top wall 42 of the cap when the plunger 26 is in its lowermost position, thus concealing the slot 44. The flange '51 'on the head skirts the upper portion of the side wall 4| of the cap.

In using the atomizer construction embodying the invention, the atomizer It! may be readily removed from the container by unscrewing the support I5 from the neck portion l4, thereby allowing liquid which is to be atomized to be placed within the container. The extensible sections of the conduit 25 may be adjusted so that the lower end thereof will be disposed adjacent the bottom wall l2 of the container, when the atomizer is mounted in place.

The contents of the container may be atomized by pressing the head 50 with a finger to cause repeated reciprocation of the plunger 26 against the action of the spring 36. The liquid within the container will pass up through the conduit past the check valve 3| and up through the plunger 25 and out the nozzle 34. The atomized liquid issuing from the orifice 36 will be directed radially as the plunger is reciprocated. When the plunger is in its lowermost position, the atomized spray will pass through the opening '45 in the side wall 4| of the cap, despite the disposition of the nozzle within the chamber 43.

When the atomizer is not in use and it is desired to render the plunger 26 inoperative, the plunger is depressed by means of head 56 to its lowermost position thus bringing the nozzle 34 within the chamber 43 and below the top wall 42 of the cap 46. The head is then rotated in either direction to move the nozzle out of alignment with the slot 44. "On releasing the head, the plunger will move upwardly under the action of the spring'36 until the nozzle engages the underside of the wall 42. This will prevent further upward movement of the plunger and locks it against reciprocatory movement. With the plunger in this position, the head 51] conceals the slot 44 in wall 42 and the flange 5| covers at least a portion of the opening 45 in wall Means is also provided for sealing the orifice 35 in the nozzle when the plunger 26 is in its locked, inoperative position. To this end, a resilient, corrosion resistant lining 54 of rubber, synthetic rubber, or the like, is mounted on the inner surface of cap wall 4|. The lining may be tubular in form so that it may be readily slipped into the cap. The lining is formed with an opening which registers with the opening 45 in wall 4 The edges of the lining are tapered or feathered at the opening therein. The wall thickness of the lining is such that upon rotation of the head 56, the outer end of the nozzle 34 will move into engagement with the lining. The lining presses resiliently against the orifice 35 of the nozzle to seal the same, thereby preventing leakage of the contents of the container II when the atomizer is not in use. The lining 54 also frictionally engages the nozzle to prevent were accidental rotation of the plunger to a position wherein the nozzle would be aligned with the slot 44 in cap wall 42 and causing inadvertent upward movementof the plunger.

-When it is desired to operate the atomizer, the head 50 is rotated until the nozzle 34 is aligned with the slot 44. The plunger 26 and the nozzle will move upwardly under the action of spring 30, to the normal, elevated position of the plunger with the nozzle 34 disposed above the cap wall 42, as shown in Fig. 2. The plunger may then be freely reciprocated by means of head50, with the nozzle 34 passing through the slot 44 ,oneither side of the cap wall 42 and the liquid contents of the container being atomized through the orifice 35 of the nozzle. The flange on the head 50 is of such dimensions and is so arranged as to clear the projected line of spray of the atomized liquid which issues from the nozzle 34.

It is understood that the atomizer construction It) may be used with various containers of different sizes or shapes, providing they have neck portions engageable with the screw threaded support I5 of the atomizer. The conduit 25 may be readily adjusted for containers of different heights so that the lower end of the conduit is adjacent the bottom wall of the container, thereby allowing atomization of substantially the entire contents of the container.

The head 50 together with the flange thereon, may be suitably formed, colored, ornamented or otherwise treated to blend or harmonize with the outer surface of the cap 40. In the case of perfume or toilet water containers having atomizer construction It] associated therewith, the overall ornamental appearance of the container is not impaired by exposure of the atomizer plunger and nozzle when the atomizer is not in use.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an atomizer construction in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all the matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An atomizer construction comprising a support, atomizing means mounted on said support and including a reciprocable member having a portion projecting above said support, a nozzle on the projecting portion of said reciprocable member extending at an angle thereto, resilient means for urging the reciprocable member in one direction, said reciprocable member being adapted to be moved in the opposite direction to a predetermined position, means on said support engageable with said nozzle to retain said member in said position and fixed means on said last mentioned means engageable with the outer end of said noz zle to seal the opening therein when said member is in said position.

2. An atomizer comprising a support, atomizing means on said support including a reciprocable and rotatable plunger, said plunger having a portion normally disposed above said support, a radially disposed nozzle extending from said plunger portion and spaced from said support in 6 the "rmalposition of said plunger, resilient "meansfor urging said plunger to its normal positionQ a 'capon said support including a wall formed with a slot through which the plunger portion extends, said slot being further adapted to allow the-passage therethrough of the nozzle upon reciprocation of said plunger, a head on the plunger portion for reciprocating the plunger against the action of said resilient means, said head being adapted to conceal the cap wall slot when said plunger is ina depressed position, said plunger being further adapted to be rotated while in said depressed position to move said nozzle out of alignment with said opening in the cap wall to a position wherein said nozzle engages the cap wall to retain said plunger in its depressed position, a resilient member fixed on the interior of said cap for engagement with the outer end of said nozzle to seal the opening therein when said nozzle is in its cap wall engaging position.

3. An atomizer comprising a support, atomizing means on said support including a reciprocable plunger having a portion extending above said support, a nozzle on said plunger portion extending at an angle thereto, a cap on said support including a top wall spaced above said support and a side wall interconnecting said top wall and said support, said top wall being formed with a slot through which said plunger portion extends, said nozzle being movable through said slot from a position above said top wall to a position below said top wall during the reciprocation of said plunger, said side wall being formed with an opening communicating with the slot in said top wall, the outer end of said nozzle being disposed in alignment with the opening in said side wall when said nozzle is in its second mentioned position.

4. An atomizer comprising a support, atomizing means on said support including a reciprocable plunger having a portion extending above said support, a nozzle on said plunger extending at an angle thereto, a cap on said support including a top wall spaced above said support and a side wall extending from said top wall to said support, said top wall being formed with a slot through which said plunger portion extends, said nozzle being movable through said slot from a position above said top wall to a position below said top wall during reciprocation of said plunger, said side wall being formed with an opening communicating with the slot in said top wall, the

outer end of said nozzle being disposed in allgnment with the opening in said side wall when said nozzle is in its second mentioned position, said plunger being rotatable whereby rotation thereof while said nozzle is in its second mentioned position will cause said plunger to be retained in a depressed, inoperative position.

5. An atomizer as in claim 4 andfurther including resilient means fixed on the inner surface of said side wall for sealing the outer end of said nozzle in the inoperative position thereof.

6. An atomizer comprising a support, a cap on said support including a top wall spaced above said support and a cylindrical side wall, atomizing means on said support including a reciprocable plunger and a nozzle projecting laterally therefrom, said top wall being formed with a radial slot to accommodate said plunger and nozzle upon reciprocable movement thereof to positions on either side of said top wall, said side wall being formed with an opening com REFERENCES CITED The following :references are of :IBCOId in .the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 10 Number Name Date Bernhardt Jan. 26, 1937 Lohse June 7, 1938 Bernhardt May 1-6, 1939 'Sierad'et a1 May 6, 1941 Root Nov. 7, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Nov. 12, 1931 France -1 Feb. 5, 1925 France Oct. 8, 1928 France Apr. 4, 1930 

